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Uber has also ventured into the Indian market by launching its first-ever water transport service, Uber Shikara. The new service allows tourists visiting Dal Lake in Srinagar, Kashmir, to pre-book shikara rides directly through the Uber app, thus providing a seamless and convenient experience. Uber has now entered water-based transport services in Asia after similar ventures in European cities like Venice.
This is an opportunity for tourists to ride through picturesque Dal Lake in a traditional boat and simultaneously make use of modern technology by booking and convenience. Uber Shikara caters to local and international visitors and makes their visit easy with a smooth hassle-free transportation option. Rides are available daily from 10 a.m. The company will be operating between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m., and each ride will take one hour, with a capacity of four passengers. Besides, the customers can now reserve their rides 12 hours to 15 days in advance using Uber’s Reserve feature in the app, ensuring that they can plan their journey without stress from last-minute arrangements.
Blending Technology with Tradition
The new service is supposedly an effort to combine the best of technology with the timelessness of the Dal Lake, giving tourists the easiest access to the location. Prabhjeet Singh, President of Uber India & South Asia, emphasized the company’s commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, saying, “Uber Shikara is our humble attempt to blend technology and tradition to give a seamless experience to travelers.” Singh highlighted that this initiative would enhance accessibility and promote tourism in the breathtaking landscape of Kashmir.
Introducing Uber Shikara is one way that Uber would make the whole process of finding a ride for shikara simple, and without hassle or time-consuming tasks such as negotiating prices or trying to find availability at the last minute. This means that the tourists can have the serenity of Dal Lake only without the trouble of logistics or bargaining.
Economic Benefits for Local Shikara Operators
In addition to helping the tourist, Uber Shikara also seeks to help local shikara operators who depend on this lake for their livelihood. With a view to ensuring fair remuneration to local boat drivers, Uber waived its usual platform fees charged on the shikara service. It means all fares collected from rides shall be remitted directly to the boat operators. In addition, the pricing for rides with Uber Shikara would be according to rates determined by the government. Therefore, both the tourist and the operators are going to get proper prices and transparent treatment.
President of the Shikara Owners Association Wali Mohammad Bhatt has also welcomed the initiative which is believed to raise the business of Dal Lake shikara operators around 4,000 times. Bhatt pointed out that Uber Shikara would eliminate the uncertainty and haggling that tourists often face when booking rides and would offer a more secure and transparent process. He also mentioned that Uber’s platform would provide assured income for the boat operators, making the service more sustainable for them in the long run.
Uber has launched its Uber Shikara service with seven shikaras and intends to grow this fleet as per demand. Bhatt also added that he hopes more boat operators will come on the service, taking advantage of the steady flow of customers attracted to the ease of booking through the Uber app.
How to Book Uber Shikara Ride
Booking an Uber Shikara ride is easy and one can do it directly from the Uber app. Here are the instructions to book a ride:
- Update the Uber app to the latest version.
- Set “Shikara Ghat No. 16” as your pick-up and drop-off points.
- Choose your desired time and date for the ride.
- Select Uber Shikara as the ride option and confirm the booking.
Once the booking is confirmed, customers can enjoy the convenience of having a shikara reserved for them at the specified time, making it easy to explore Dal Lake without any hassle.
Future of Uber Shikara
Uber Shikara is the largest expansion of its service that Uber has done in India to date. The company is definitely making moves to improve tourist activities in the country while offering transportation. With Uber Shikara, one would introduce modern technology in an older, traditional setting. Besides, it boosts the economy by empowering operators who actually operate the boats. Here is an opportunity created between a local community and visitors in making this innovative product accessible and viable.
The flexibility of the service-the flexibility to book in advance, which offers a fixed rate, hassle-free shikara ride-is an additional factor that distinguishes the service from traditional means. Uber Shikara offers an opportunity to grow big and become a brand by which the tourism sector develops in Srinagar to attract more visitors to, at the same time improve the livelihoods of boat vendors.
